Former player Bill Russell (left) and attends the 2013 NBA All-Star Game at the Toyota Center. / Brett Davis, USA TODAY Sports

by Sam Amick, USA TODAY Sports

by Sam Amick, USA TODAY Sports

NBA Hall of Famer Bill Russell was cited on Wednesday evening for having a gun in a prohibited area of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, according to airport spokesman Perry Cooper.

According to a spokesperson from the Transportation Security Administration, Russell's .38 caliber handgun was loaded with six rounds. He had a permit for the gun, but will still likely face fines from the Transportation Security Administration as well as possible prosecution from King County and state authorities.

The gun, which was discovered inside his carry-on luggage at a security checkpoint, was confiscated as evidence and the 79-year-old Russell was released after being cooperative with the authorities. There was no disruption to the other passengers going through the security checkpoint, the TSA spokesperson said.

"He handled himself fine," Cooper said. "Usually what occurs in these situations is that the subject says that they didn't realize it was in the bag. Typically that's what happens when you have these discovered at a checkpoint."